Obama and Kharsai - The Pot Calling the Kettle Black?

I first started this article a couple months ago, but didn't post it thinking that I would expound upon my thoughts; but even today, it's relevant. So, here goes.

Not too long ago, Obama made a "surprise" visit to Afghanistan to meet with Hamid Kharsai. It was also reported that Kharsai was told that he MUST (and the emphasis here is mine, although apparently it is the underlying purposed of the visit), MUST do more clean up the corruption in the Kharsai government. The old saying of "the pot calling the kettle black" came instantly to mind. If you don't like old clichés, then here's a better descriptor: Hypocrisy.

Here is an example of a "leader" who builds a regime of corruption by implanting and empowering czars to run his government while saying that another leader must clean up the corruption in their government. For example, Obama's czars are neither confirmed by Congress nor elected by the people, and as a general rule, have never experienced leadership in any type of major business, capitalistic venture, or industrial enterprise. However, Obama's czars now literally have control over large portions of the nation's economy (the automobile industry, banking industry, etc.) - let's not mention how the affectation of their decisions have far-reaching implications, impacting the daily lives of ordinary individuals. In fact, Obama recently put 15 more people into important positions while Congress was on a 2-week spring break, blaming the GOP for the timing of his actions. How absurd is that? These positions were not so critical to the function of the government that they could not be put off two more weeks for Congress to have the opportunity to at least put on their "show" of Congressional investigation prior to affirmation. He just circumvented "the old system" with his new one.

So, how is this different from some of the shenanigans that are done in countries like Afghanistan or Venezuela or Russia or, for that matter, any other country where there is supposed to be some form of democratic practices - if only in theory? Rather than standing apart, being " a light in a dark world", being an example to be followed as the US once was, the Omabanation (AKA, the USA) has made enormous steps toward blending in with countries led by thugs, vandals, and despots.

How is being just like other countries that suppress the wishes of the majority of its people a good thing? Who will now be able to hold up a standard against corruption in those countries, or in this one? It will all be the same modus operandi, only now known by different monikers, depending upon which country and which leader. The difference used to be that in this country was the standard-bearer with checks and balances to help limit corruption in its government. However, this administration has made its own brand of corruption the standard from which to perpetuate their "change" while trying to persuade others to conform - but conform to what, the US form of corruption? A rose by any other name!

So, will all this said, and with obvious corruption in his own administration, how can Obama in any form of conscience make demands on the Kharsai regime? There's another quote that comes to mind: "How can you say to your brother, 'Brother, let me take the speck out of your eye', when you fail to see the plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye."

While the US is in an obvious downward spiral, morally and ethically speaking (with the corruption which now is more blatant and commonplace at the highest levels of our government), and with places like Afghanistan and others are being touted as "supposedly" on an upward trend (though we've seen no difference in their behaviors), will that mean, again ethically and morally speaking, that our countries will meet somewhere in the middle? If so, the US loses big. Why? Because the US will no longer be the "example" that other countries have looked up to. Where the US once was the country who led the world by example, they now will be "eye to eye" on a lower plane - down in the muck and mire with corrupted countries.

So, there you have my take on it. Simply stated, Obama is trying his best to lower the prestige and moral strength of this country while trying to compel other countries - who, by the way, don't respect his leadership - to behave according to his set of standards for behavior. He suggests that the US should lower its "standards" and compel others to "meet us halfway." Thousands of years of history tells us that this won't happen. So, who really comes out ahead in this situation?

In my opinion, as far as the US is concerned, mediocrity is not a good thing. NOT A GOOD THING AT ALL!